# What condiments do other cultures and nations use that may seem odd to north Americans **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774 "2011-12-19T21:43:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/21 "2011-12-20T04:32:44Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Malt vinegar is a table condiment in the UK (and I think Australia and possibly Canada), as a specific accompaniment to fish and chips. I don’t know if this is that uncommon in the US. Places like Long John Silver’s (fast food seafood restaurant) give you little packets of malt vinegar for your fish and fries. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/22 "2011-12-20T04:37:23Z")
When I was in Liege, Belgium working for a month, every time I ordered a ham sandwich I had to ask them to hold the butter. Not sure if it was just the particular shop we ordered from, or a standard… -D/a ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/23 "2011-12-20T04:52:37Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > (Other than putting peanut butter and jelly [is that jam?] in a sandwich, which sounds like the most disgusting thing I can possibly imagine!) You have to like peanut butter for it to work. In America, if you buy a jar of peanut butter, chances are it’s going to be used mostly for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. What else is it good for? ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/24 "2011-12-20T04:55:32Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Sorry man. That sounds like beef and custard, or potatoes with sugar on to me. Two things I can’t imagine why I’d mix them together. Ice cream and gravy. Peanut butter and jelly are sweet and sweet. You just gave 3 examples of sweet and savory. Not the same thing at all. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/25 "2011-12-20T05:49:52Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > Peanut butter and jelly are sweet and sweet. You just gave 3 examples of sweet and savory. Not the same thing at all. Doesn’t peanut butter contain a lot of umami? It’s a legume, after all. I think that would qualify it as a savory food. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/26 "2011-12-20T06:13:14Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > Tartar sauce on French fries is a staple of the Pacific Northwest. Is this a recent thing? I grew up in the Pacific Northwest (Vancouver, WA, and then Seattle) and unless the fries were served with something else that had tartar sauce I don’t think I ever saw it (I agree it is good so often asked for it, but I don’t think I ever saw it presented as a standard item for french fries). ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/27 "2011-12-20T06:22:09Z")
Sweet and savory isn’t that uncommon. Duck with orange or cherries is not unheard of. Pork and apples too. Teriyaki is pretty darn sweet, there must be lots more examples. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/28 "2011-12-20T06:29:36Z")
This isn’t a condiment, but Israelis frequently eat salad with breakfast (as do other middle eastern countries). And [this stuff](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amba_%28condiment%29) (an actual condiment) is disgusting. But then again, I grew up in Iowa, so maybe oil-based dressings will never sit well with me. I’m fully aware of how not-posh I look if I order a salad with a dairy-based dressing at a restaurant. It would seem that Americans like their condiments…thick. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/29 "2011-12-20T06:30:37Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > You have to like peanut butter for it to work. In America, if you buy a jar of peanut butter, chances are it’s going to be used mostly for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. What else is it good for? Eating it off the spoon. DUH. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/30 "2011-12-20T06:50:16Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > When I was in Liege, Belgium working for a month, every time I ordered a ham sandwich I had to ask them to hold the butter. > > Not sure if it was just the particular shop we ordered from, or a standard.. > > -D/a Why wouldn’t you want butter on your ham sandwich? What were you using to make it moist if not butter? ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/31 "2011-12-20T07:02:40Z")
India has a gazillion chutney and chutney equivalents which would qualify as condiments. Two of the most common - Pudina or Mint chutney, which is made with green chili pepper and mint leaves (if I’m not wrong) and is common in North India, and Coconut chutney, which is made of coconut and assorted spices/flavours, is ubiquitous in South India. ETA: PB(savory) and J and milk is dinner for me around twice a week. It rocks. ---
**Author:** ![coffinjumper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@coffinjumper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffinjumper)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/32 "2011-12-20T07:02:53Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > In America, if you buy a jar of peanut butter, chances are it’s going to be used mostly for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. What else is it good for? Chocolate bars! And toast, but I often do that with jelly as well so it counts with the sandwiches. So seriously, chocolate. ETA: I almost left this without remembering to list the deliciousness of peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Shame on me. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/33 "2011-12-20T07:07:43Z")
Indonesian cuisine has a variety of chili-based condiments called [sambal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambal). Lots of examples in the link. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/34 "2011-12-20T07:08:47Z")
> [@Jennyrosity](#): > > Why wouldn’t you want butter on your ham sandwich? What were you using to make it moist if not butter? In 'Merica we moisten our ham sandwiches with mayonnaise or mustard (or both). Butter is never used in cold deli sandwiches. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/35 "2011-12-20T07:33:38Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > Is this a recent thing? I grew up in the Pacific Northwest (Vancouver, WA, and then Seattle) and unless the fries were served with something else that had tartar sauce I don’t think I ever saw it (I agree it is good so often asked for it, but I don’t think I ever saw it presented as a standard item for french fries). It’s become more common in the PNW over the last 25 or so years. Where I live, there’s at least one local fast-food chain (Zip’s) that gives you packets of tartar along with ketchup when you order fries. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/36 "2011-12-20T10:11:55Z")
> [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](#): > > In 'Merica we moisten our ham sandwiches with mayonnaise or mustard (or both). Butter is never used in cold deli sandwiches. That’s a fundamental difference to Germany. Here, a sandwich (or, as we call it, _Butterbrot= butter bread_) always basically consists of slices of bread + butter + spread (ham, sausage, cold cuts, cheese, or sweet things like jam or honey). Of course, other condiments like mustard or mayo are optional, but butter is obligatory. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/37 "2011-12-20T10:18:22Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Brown sauce (HP, etc.) is very common in the UK and not in NA. Isn’t A1 very similar to brown sauce? Salad Cream is a common one in my house, isn’t that particular to the UK? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/38 "2011-12-20T10:25:38Z")
The Romans loved a [sauce](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garum)made from rotten fish. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/39 "2011-12-20T10:27:37Z")
> [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](#): > > Salad Cream is a common one in my house, isn’t that particular to the UK? I’m told it’s called [Miracle Whip](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_Whip)in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774/40 "2011-12-20T10:54:06Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I’m told it’s called [Miracle Whip](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_Whip)in the USA. is it common/popular? Standard salad condiment for me, I also prefer to mash up boiled eggs with this instead of mayo. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-condiments-do-other-cultures-and-nations-use-that-may-seem-odd-to-north-americans/606774.md?page=3)